SURGICAL REHABILITATION OF FACIAL-NERVE PARALYSIS

Facial nerve paralysis is a rare and often temporary complication of o tologic and neuro-otologic surgery. Associated ocular complications mu st be avoided to prevent visual loss. When reanastomosis or grafting o f the facial nerve is not possible, the VII-XII anastomosis offers rel iable reinnervation of the distal facial nerve. For patients whose par alysis has been present for many years, the temporalis muscle transfer provides excellent results. This approach has been proven to give rep roducible, aesthetic results with the fewest number of operations.